Key takeaways
Gentak (gentamicin) and Ciloxan (ciprofloxacin) are both antibiotics used to treat bacterial eye infections, but they belong to different drug classes and have some key differences. Gentak is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that works by blocking bacteria from making proteins needed for their protective covering, while Ciloxan is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that stops bacteria from growing and repairing themselves. Gentak is available in both eye drop and ointment forms, whereas Ciloxan is available as a solution and an ointment, but the ointment is only available as a brand-name product. Gentak is typically used 2 to 3 times a day for eye ointment and every 4 hours for eye drops, while Ciloxan requires more frequent dosing, especially for corneal ulcers, which may need drops every 15 minutes initially. Both medications can cause temporary eye irritation, but Ciloxan may also cause a white substance to form on the eye when treating corneal ulcers. Neither medication should be used with contact lenses during treatment, and both require a prescription.
